Twine-cutter



INQModel.)

' T..W. BURT.

TWINE OUTTER.

No. 358,143. Patented Feb. 22,1887.

INVENTOR.

WITNESSES. Q

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UNITED STATES PATENTOFF QE.

THOMAS IV. BURT, OF LA FAYETTE, INDIANA.

TWINE-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,148, dated February 22, 1887.

Application filed December 15, 1886. Serial No. 221,659. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. BURT, of the city of La Fayette, county of Tippecanoe, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Twine-Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my said invention is to produce a simple, effective, and inexpensive device for cutting twine, which may be attached to the clothing, and thislaccomplish by means of the implement hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanyingdrawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved twine-cutter, illustrating its use; Fig. 2, a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section thereof on the dotted line 3 3, and Fig. 4 a transverse section on the dotted line 4 4.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the body or main portion of my iniproved cutter, and B the outer portion, which embodies the blade, or has said blade attached thereto.

The mainportion A is preferably a strip of metal, one end ofwhich is turned over and forms a hook,which may be inserted in a button-hole of the clothing. Opposite the blade it has a crease or groove, as shown most plainly in Fig. 4, into which the edge of the blade enters, and which thus forms a sheath or cover for said edge, and also insures that the blade shall pass entirely through the twine and completely sever it. As shown, this crease or groove does not extend entirely through the metal, and therefore there is no danger of the blade coming in contact with and cutting the clothing. This main portion also has holes formed in its lower end for the reception of the screws or rivets by which the blade portion B is secured thereto. I prefer to use screws rather than rivets, as then the blade can be taken off and sharpened more easily.

The outer portion, B, is formed of sheet metal, similarly to the portion A but in construction this part will be usually of a better quality and better tempered than the part A. The blade is formed by making a segmental cut in this portion B, and turning the part so cut in at right angles with its former position and properly sharpening it. The part B is then secured to the part A, by rivets or screws, in such position that the middle portion of the blade will enter the crease or groove in the part A.

The operation is as follows: The operator having this implement attached to his clothing, when he desires to cut the twine, draws it down between the parts A and B against the edge of the knife, which ordinarily severs it; but if, on account of the knife becoming dull or the twine being unusually hard, it should pass the blade without being completely severed, returning it will complete the cutting, as the blade should be formed to cut in both directions.

I am aware that twine-cutters have heretofore been made of various kinds; but I am not aware that any twine-cutter has heretofore been produced in which the blade was so formed as to be adapted to cut in both directions, or in which a sheath for the edge of the blade has been provided by a crease or groove in the back plate or main portion which did not extend entirely through the metal.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a twine-cutter, the combination of a back plate or main portion, A, having a crease or groove therein, which extends only partially through it, and aplate, B, having a knife thereon, the edge of which enters said create orgroove.

2. The combination, in a twine-cutter, of the part A, having a crease or groove therein, the part B, and a knife secured to said part B, said knife being formed with a rounded edge, and thus adapted to cut the twine when mo ved in either direction past it, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 

